Hydrogen fuelled transport infrastructure
The European Lighthouse Projects (LHPs) are projects with high visibility of a supply-and-demand nature. They are supported by a deployment strategy encompassing both infrastructure and socioeconomic issues. The first EU-funded LHP for hydrogen fuel-cell cars is the 'H2moves Scandinavia (H2MOVES.EU SCANDINAVIA)' (H2MOVES SCANDINAVIA) project. The corresponding H2moves.eu demonstration projects on hydrogen for transport are first going to be tested in the Scandinavian region (Denmark, Norway and Sweden). Project goals are a hydrogen-fuelled network of 15 main and 30 satellite refuelling stations together with a fleet of 100 buses, 500 cars and 500 specialty vehicles by 2015. Funding enabled the SHHP to establish a state-of-the-art full-service hydrogen refuelling station in the urban environment of Oslo in Europe. The station boasts pre-cooling technology that enables fast refilling and onsite hydrogen production from electrolysis carried out with certified renewable energy. The project evaluated close to 20 fuel-cell test vehicles including sedans and 2-seater city cars for daily operation in Oslo and Copenhagen, a second demonstration site. Some also covered specific routes in southern Norway, western Denmark and the entire SHHP region. Four of these cars participated in a four-week long European demonstration tour to raise public awareness regarding the hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle state of readiness. For this purpose, a mobile refuelling system was developed to provide hydrogen with almost no carbon dioxide emissions. A safety study was provided with a focus on certification gaps in Scandinavia to accelerate commercialisation. Furthermore, a safety and emergency plan was developed for refuelling stations.H2MOVES SCANDINAVIA activities should ultimately realise a functional Scandinavian hydrogen fuel-cell transportation and refuelling infrastructure, providing an important example for other countries to follow.
Keywords
Scandinavian, hydrogen, refuelling station, transport, infrastructure, fuel-cell, pre-cooling, electrolysis